Zen Navigation
I was introduced to that term by my brother, who, whilst driving one fine day a long long time ago in the annals of prehistory, got horribly lost and then, as if by magic, found what we were looking for.
Thus the term Zen Navigation has been used ever since to mean a bloody brilliant stroke of luck, with no skill or memory involved, with perhaps a tad of prayer. Just bloody mindedness, not stopping to ask directions and pure, god given luck. So the words “Zen Navigation” would usually be shouted from our lips when, suddenly, when it seems that all the Gods have forsaken us, that one still is smiling. Pats of the backs and (incredulous) laughter would soon follow. And of course, the rolled eyes and shaking heads of any female in the car, usually my sister in law.
My own personal experience with Zen Navigation last weekend in Kuala Kubu Baru left me with a newer definition, though. Zen Buddhism is fanatically obsessed with “no thinking”, the art of doing stuff without consciously thinking of the task at hand (or any other thing). Athletes in peak performance use the same technique. Instead of thinking about where to place their racket, their body, their feet, they instead operate as if on autopilot, letting years of practice take over. The state of No Mind.
And there I was, only vaguely aware of where I am, and where I am heading, as I criss-crossed the backlanes in what is now the diverted road towards Frasers from KKB. I have been through this road several times before, being driven, driving myself, getting lost, searching for those handwritten signs and arrows.
But that day as I was riding my scooter, I left my intellect behind, and lets my senses take over. Peripheral vision, long term memory and reflexes melded into one as I turned as if by intention, and reached the main road on the other side after about 10 turns. Now… THAT was truly Zen Navigation!
Thus the term Zen Navigation has been used ever since to mean a bloody brilliant stroke of luck, with no skill or memory involved, with perhaps a tad of prayer. Just bloody mindedness, not stopping to ask directions and pure, god given luck. So the words “Zen Navigation” would usually be shouted from our lips when, suddenly, when it seems that all the Gods have forsaken us, that one still is smiling. Pats of the backs and (incredulous) laughter would soon follow. And of course, the rolled eyes and shaking heads of any female in the car, usually my sister in law.
My own personal experience with Zen Navigation last weekend in Kuala Kubu Baru left me with a newer definition, though. Zen Buddhism is fanatically obsessed with “no thinking”, the art of doing stuff without consciously thinking of the task at hand (or any other thing). Athletes in peak performance use the same technique. Instead of thinking about where to place their racket, their body, their feet, they instead operate as if on autopilot, letting years of practice take over. The state of No Mind.
And there I was, only vaguely aware of where I am, and where I am heading, as I criss-crossed the backlanes in what is now the diverted road towards Frasers from KKB. I have been through this road several times before, being driven, driving myself, getting lost, searching for those handwritten signs and arrows.
But that day as I was riding my scooter, I left my intellect behind, and lets my senses take over. Peripheral vision, long term memory and reflexes melded into one as I turned as if by intention, and reached the main road on the other side after about 10 turns. Now… THAT was truly Zen Navigation!
posted by aries at
1:11 AM
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